Trials

People often think that they have trials because they are bad people.  That is not true.  Jesus had trials.  The Bible says that He “learned obedience through the things He suffered” (Heb 5:8). Jesus was not “bad”, nor disobedient.  Still, His trials brought choices before Him, and He always chose to do what the Father showed Him His will was.

A door opens up for us during our trials such as at nor other time.  For instance, in a loveless marriage, one is faced with the decision to stay, and continue loving, even though it hurts or leave and get relief from suffering.  Or, with a disabled child in the family, one can find life too demanding and become bitter, or he or she can give love.  And so it goes with our trials, each bringing suffering and a door through which choices are presented. But the decisions are made . . . by us.

Obedience is usually seen as following rules, either spoken or written. But Jesus learned obedience by learning the heart of His Holy Father in each situation.  He heard from His Father which choices would come from His heart, and made His decisions accordingly.

So, we also get to know what holy choices our God would make, by listening to the Holy Spirit. In speaking of the Holy Spirit, Jesus told His disciples that He (the Holy Spirit) would tell them plainly about His Father (Jn 16:25).  What the Holy Spirit speaks within us will enable us to act and to speak from a heart of love.  We can chose love over hate, and peace over revenge, for instance.  It is ours, if we want to be holy.

James asks us to see our trials as joy (Jms 1:2-8). Going through the door that trials open helps us to find the use of our faith, and to develop maturity in ourselves.  Our faith brings obedience to what we believe we should say or do, even in the face of our doubts.  We can then ask God for His wisdom.  But we should not try His wisdom on as if it were a comfy slipper that we want to fit to our life-style.  No, it is a sturdy boot that we will lace tightly to ourselves, for protection and endurance.  Our trials allow us to have maturity and wisdom, if we sincerely want to obey God’s heart.

We would do good to remember that Jesus, who had no sin, had trials.  We also have trials.  Let us not loathe our weaknesses and condemn ourselves when suffering comes our way.  Engaging in religious activities will not prevent trials from coming our way.  Instead, let us trust ourselves to God, and learn about His heart in each circumstance.  Amen.